Pessary inserter



Feb. 7, 1939. R. M. HAY fi 'i i flfi'yfll PESSARY INSERTER Origingl Filed July 6, 1933 FIG.3

' INVENTOR Rene M. 05/ BY ATTORNEY Patented F ch: 7, 1939 E- RJ Q-Rene M. Hay, New York 1 Products, 'Inc., New of New York- Renewed J Application July 6, 1933, Serial Nb.

' Claims.

My, invention relates to a 'imedical appliance; and more particularly tos'u'ch'appliances as are .,,intended' for the positioning of instrumentalities withintheb'ody 1 v I This, application is'a continuation in part of my application Sen Noi 432,307, filed March 1, 11, 30. 1 i 'I My invention will be shown and described as an applicator forpessaries, and in particular for .10 pessaries having a rim surrounding an elongated,

I extensibleibodyportionfi I i .It' is oneobject-of my invention to provide an applicator which is not attached to the pessary in any manner. I v It is another object of my invention to provide an, applicator. of the character described with the proper curvature to insure the proper positloning of the pessary with respect to the cervix.

It is a further object of my invention to provlde an applicatorof the character described, 5 with means to facilitatev positioning of the pessary without dangeriof damaging thesame or injuring any of the parts of the body contacted thereby. It is still another object of my invention to provide an applicator of the character described with markings to indicate the proper positions for the different sizes of. pessaries, so as to facilitate the positioning thereof. I

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein' i Figure 1 isa side elevation of the applicator of my invention; I

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively front el and an end elevation thereof. I v Referring to the drawing, my applicator comprises a body 6, having a curved rear wall 1,

evation or weighted head 8, and at its rear end in a somewhat thinner and flatter handle portion 9, the extreme tip of the handle 9 terminating in a hook II. The applicator is of greater width than depth, and as shown the curvature is substantially that of an ogee curve. The applicator of my invention is particularly adaptable to being cast in molds.

The head 8, or enlarged forward end, is rounded from side to side, that is across the broad width of the applicator, and is provided with a wide groove l2 which likewise extends across the broad width of the applicator and is rounded across that width as indicated at l3 in Fig. 2, to form a convex groove.

terminating at its forward end in an enlarged T NTJOFF E INSERTER N. Y., assignor to Durexl N.'Y., a corporati may uly 28, 1937 (1128-127) I I The groove l2 engages the rim the pessary as it is being positioned. Adjacent the;handle 9 the iron'twall is provided with a plurality of markings l4, alongsideof which appropriate designations will be placed indicative of the vary ingsizes' of pessariesr nt the time of being applied the pes'sa'r'y will. be stretched between the groove i2 and the particular marking I! dependent upon the size'of thepessary. Theenlarged blunt head .8 is used, with the roundedend portions sothat .there is a large blunt surface engaging the pessary, and thus obviating the likelihood of breaking or damaging the same accidentally or during the use of the applicator;

Particular attentionis directed to the curvature of the wall 1 illustrated in Fig. 1. This is designed so as to substantially fit the rear wall of the vagina, or conform thereto when thepessary is in position beyondthe cervix. The curvature of thewall I is the curvature of the instrument that offsets the head 8 with respect to the handle 9 and the arc of that curve passes through the, groove 12 as indicated by dotand dash lines in Fig. 1. Accordingly, easy and proper positioning of the pessary is assured.

The forward or head end of the instrument tapers substantially from the place where it joins the'handle 9 upwardly to the head, so that with my applicator all, surfaces are smooth and have flowing lines.

The hook I I is provided so as to readily engage the rim of. the pessary when it is desired to withdraw the same. Again it will be seen that the curvature of the applicator is such as -to facilitate the insertion thereof without likelihood of injury to the person, and the hook is broad and well proportioned so as to firmly engage the rim for the purposes of removal of the pessary.

Finally the instrument is of very simple construction, and is thus adapted for ready and thorough sterilization from time to time. 'In those provided or adapted especially for surgical use, and that of physicians, the applicator will be especially plated to provide a surface that will withstand the frequent sterilizations which physicians apply to instruments they use.

The use of the applicator will be apparent from the foregoing description, but may be summarized as follows:

' The pessary is placed upon the applicator so that the groove l2 engages the inside of the rim, the pessary being held upon the applicator by the finger until partially inserted, whereupon the u walls of the vagina. will serve to hold the pessary upon the applicator. With the thumb placed upon the proper marking for the size pessary being used, the insertion is continued, the applicator bearingrnore or less against the rear wall of the vagina so that by the time the applicator is inserted to the extent indicated for the size pessary being used, the head of the applicator will be just beyond the cervix, thus insuring the proper position of the pessary about the cervix, the curvature of the applicator facilitating this position The applicator is-then withdrawn ing thereof. When it is desired to remove the pessary the applicator is reinserted with the hook end advancing. The hook engages the rim of the pessary. whereupon the applicator and pessary may be readily withdrawn.

Modifications may be made in the arrangement and location of parts within the spirit and scope of my invention, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An applicator formed from a broad strip of material of greater width than thickness and of substantially greater thickness at one end, the enlarged end being rounded from side to side across the broad width and terminating in a convex groove that extends from side to side of the broad width of the applicator, said applicator having at a region remote from said grooved end a broad handle portion, whereby said applicator is adapted to support adequately, against displacement during its application, an elongated article, such as a pessary which has its forward rim portion disposed within said groove and there maintained exclusively by direct stretching pressure of a digit of the user applied directly against a portion of said article extended along the broad surface of said handle portion.

2. An applicator for introduction of articles such as pessaries into a body cavity, said applicator comprising a broad strip of material of substantially greater thickness at its forward end,

the enlarged end terminating in a groove that is adapted to engage the rim of the article being applied at a portion of said rim intended to be introduced within the body, said groove extending from side to to side of the broad width of the applicator, and the strip having a broad handle portion near its other end with a scale formed on said broad handle portion and removed from the enlarged end for locating on the applicator the opposite portion of the rim of the article according'to the size of the article, the user of said applicator being thereby enabled to control said article, during its introduction and its initial application, by digital pressure applied directly to a rim portion extended along said broad handle portion in the vicinity of said scale, outside of the body and under visual observation at the time of introduction.

3. An applicator for a distendible pessary of the rubber diaphragm type for introducing a leading marginal portion of the pessary into position behind the cervix, said applicator consisting of a single barlike member having a head or substantial width and thickness at its forward end, said head having its forward end face formed with smoothly rounded upper and lower lips, divided by and merging smoothly into a transverse- 1y extending groove for receiving and retaining against tension the leading marginal portion of the pessary which is to be positioned behind the cervix, and said applicator including a body portion along which the pessary may be distended under tension and supported flatwise for insertion, said body portion being curved lengthwise in form to facilitate the thrusting of the leading marginal portion of the pessary positively to its final position behind the cervix and having a wide, substantially fiat surface adapted to engage the trailing marginal portion of the pessary at spaced apart points transversely of the body por tion.

RENE M. HAY. 

